Air conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning unit divided air-tight into a first section and a second section and installed in a room, comprising an evaporator mounted in the first section, a compressor mounted in the second section and a condenser mounted in the second section, said first section being formed with a fresh air supply port and an air ejection port and said second section being formed with a room air inlet port and an air outlet port.

United States Patent 1191 1 11 3,789,621 Hnuzuka Feb. 5, 1974 [54] AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 2,224,878 12/1940 Morrison 98/32 2,342,566 2/1944 Wolfert 62/324 [75] Invent 2,401,560 6/1946 Graham 62/427 Japan 2,708,568 5/1955 Marshall 165/22 2,971,747 2/1961 Young 165/48 [73] Asslgnee' ggf g gg Kabushlk' 3,252,504 5/1966 Newton 165/22 Filed: p 1 1971 Primary ExaminrWilliam J. Wye [21] AppL NOJ 183,013 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller &

Mosher [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 3, 1971 Japan 46-38911 [57] ABSTRACT An air conditioning unit divided air-tight into a first [52] U.S. c1 62/324, 165/22, 62/259, Section and a second section and installed i a o 62/262 62/427 comprising an evaporator mounted in the first section, [51] Int. Cl F25b 13/00 a Compressor mounted in the Second section d a [58] Fi ld f S h 165/22 43; 62/427 259 262 condenser mounted in the second section, said first 2/324; 93 32 33 A section being formed with a fresh air supply port and an air ejection port and said second section being [56] References Cit d formed with a room air inlet port and an air outlet UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,204,394 6/1940 Bailey .l 165/22 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 26 27 say- 2a 8 291 14$ 1//|o 2? U Q 3 2 1? VII 14 10 $1 51 ii ,32 J) Q 24 J 2 3,I 11 QV 1o 2:: 1 LG.

I M 2 J/ 2 :1 1 14:5 H 10 m 25 PAIENIEUFEB 51914 3.789.621

WU 2 BF 3 "7 l2 IA [3) QT A 5 REVERSE SYSTEM K) \REVERSE r T 4 5 SYSTEM 3 REVERSE SYSTEM y s7 IO \REVERSE I5 32 A/ SYSTEM J AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus, and more particularly it is concerned with an air conditioning apparatus which is adapted to heat and cool a plurality of rooms.

This invention has as its object the provision of an air conditioning apparatus comprising a plurality of air conditioning units each unit being installed in one of the rooms to be cooled and heated, so that air conditioning can be carried out efficiently.

Additional objects as well as features and advantages of this invention will become evident from the description set forth hereinafter when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the air conditioning apparatus comprising one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are views in explanation of one form of air conditioning unit; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view in explanation of another form of air conditioning unit.

One embodiment of this invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

An air conditioning unit 2 is installed in each of chambers 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D.

The air conditioning unit 2 is contained in a case 3 which is divided airtight by a partition into a first section 5 and a second section 6.

An evaporator 7 including a cooling coil and the like of a cooling mechanism is mounted in the first section 5, and a compressor 8 and an air-cooled condenser 9 of the cooling mechanism. are mounted in the second section 6. The refrigerant passes through the evaporator 7, compressor 8 and condenser 9 constitute in a cooling cycle.

The first section 5 is formed in its lower side portion with a room air drawing port 10 and in its upper side portion with an ejection port 11. An ejection blower 12 is mounted inwardly of the ejection port 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, a fresh air supply port 13 is formed in a lower side portion of the first section 5 of each of the air conditioning units 2 installed in the rooms 1A and 1B. The first section 5 of each of the air conditioning units 2 of the rooms 1C and 1D is provided with no air supply port 13, the room air drawing port 10 of each of these units 2 serving as a fresh air supply port as shown in FIG. 3.

The second section 6 is formed in its upper side portion with a room air inlet port 14 and in its lower side portion with an air outlet port 15.

The air conditioning apparatus according to this invention comprises a fresh air supply device 16 installed in the open air. The supply device 16 comprises a filter 18, a coil 19 for cooling and heating fresh air and a blower 20 mounted in a case 17. The case 17 is formed with an air supply inlet port 21 at one side thereof which is juxtaposed to the filter l8 and with an air delivery port 22 at the other side-thereof which isdisposed opposite to the air inlet port 21.

Connected to the air supply device 16 at the air delivery port 22 is an air supply duct 23 which extends along the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. Branch ducts 24 branch off from the air supply duct 23 at suitable points to be connected to the air conditioning units 2 of the respective rooms 1A and 1B atthe respective supply ports 13.

Ejection ducts 25 branch off from the air duct 23 at suitable points to open in the respective rooms 1C and 1D.

The air conditioning apparatus according to this invention further comprises an air discharge device 26 which comprises an exhaust blower 28 mounted in a case 27 which is formed with an exhaust port 29 at one side thereof and an air suction port 30 at the other side thereof.

Connected to the air discharge device 26 at the air suction port 30 is an air outlet duct 31 which extends along the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. Branch ducts 32 branch off from the air outlet duct 31 at suitable points to be connected to the respective air exhaust ports 15 of the air conditioning units 2 of the respective rooms.

The operation of the air conditioning apparatus according to this invention will now be explained. When the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and ID are to be cooled, the supply blower 20 of the supply device 16 for treating fresh air and the exhaust blower 28 of the air discharge device 26 are driven and at the same time the ejection blowers 12 of the respective air conditioning units 2 are driven.

In this way, fresh air is drawn from out of doors through the inlet port 21 of the supply device 16, and dust and other foreign matter are removed from the drawn air by means of the filter 18. The air from which dust and other foreign matter are removed is cooled by means of the coil 19 and delivered by means of the supply blower 20 into the air supply duct 23.

The fresh air in the air supply duct 23 passes through the branch ducts 24 direct into the first sections of the respective air conditioning units 2 of the rooms 1A and 1B through the respective air supply ports 13. The fresh air thus delivered to the air conditioning units 2 is ejected by the respective ejection blowers 12 into the rooms 1A and 13 through the respective ejection ports 11. At the same time, the air in the rooms 1A and 1B is drawn by suction through the respective room air drawing ports 10 into the respective units 2 and ejected through the respective ejection ports 11 into the rooms 1A and 1B, so that the air in the rooms 1A and 1B can be moved in circulation. I

The fresh air in the air supply duct 23 passes through the respective air ejection ducts 25 into the rooms 1C and 1D, and thence into the first sections 5 of the respective units 2 through the respective room air drawing ports 10. The air delivered to the units 2 is ejected by the respective ejection blowers 12 into the rooms 1C and 1D through the respective ejection ports 1 1, so that the air in the rooms 1C and 1D can be moved in circulationf On the other hand, the air in the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D is drawn by suction through the respective room air inlet ports 14 into the second sections 6 of the respective units 2, and passed through the respective air outlet ports 15 into the respective branch ducts 32, into the air outlet duct 31, and through the air suction port 30 into the air discharge device 26, from which the air is vented to atmosphere through the exhaust port 29.

As the. blowers of the air supply device, air exhaust device and all the air-conditioning units are driven as aforementioned, the compressor 8 of the cooling mechanism is driven, so that a refrigerant is circulated through the compressor 8, condenser 9 and evaporator 7 in the indicated order in a cooling cycle.

The air passing through the first section of each unit 2 is cooled by heat exchange at the evaporator 7, so that the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D can be cooled by the respective air conditioning units 2.

The air passing through the second section of each unit 2 and exhausted therefrom is brought into contact with the air-cooled condenser 9 and compressor 8 before being exhausted, so as to thereby cool the condenser 9 and compressor 8.

In the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, each air conditioning unit 2 is described as being provided with an ejection blower 12. It is to be understood, however, that an induction nozzle 33 may be provided in the supply port 13 and the ejection blower 12 may be done without as shown in FIG. 4.

It is also to be understood that air may be exhausted to atmosphere direct through the air outlet ports of the respective air conditioning units 2 by eliminating the air outlet duct 31.

When it is desired to heat the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and ID, a refrigerant valve 4 is switched so that the direction of movement of the refrigerant through the compressor 8, condenser 9 and evaporator 7 is reversed as conventional practices.

In this reverse cycle, the evaporator 7 serves as an air-cooled condenser and the air-cooled condenser 9 may serve as an evaporator. In this way, the hot air produced by the evaporators 7 is ejected by the respective ejection blowers 12 through the respective ejection ports 11 into the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D. The heat of the air exhausted into the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D is absorbed by the respective condensers 9, and cooled air is exhausted through the respective exhaust ports 15. The heat absorbed by the condensers 9 is given off by the evaporators 7, so that the heat given off can be used again. It will be appreciated that the heating operation of the apparatus according to this invention is performed such that the heat of the discharged air which corresponds to the amount of air introduced into each air conditioning unit 2 is used again based on the principles of an air-cooled heat pump.

By causing each air conditioning unit 2 to act as a heat pump, this invention makes it possible to heat the rooms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D without mounting additional piping for passing hot water through the rooms.

The air conditioning apparatus according to this invention is constructed as aforementioned. in cooling rooms by the apparatus according to this invention, the cooling mechanism mounted in the air conditioning unit installed in each room and consisting of the compressor, air-cooled condenser and evaporator performs a cooling operation. The cooling efficiency is increased by drawing fresh air through the supply port of the first section of each unit, cooling the drawn air by the evaporator in the first section and ejecting the cooled air through the ejection port into the room. At the same time, the cooled air in the room is utilized for cooling the air-cooled condenser by introducing the cooled air in the room into the second section of the unit and exhausted therefrom after the air-cooled condenser is brought into contact with the cooler air, thereby increasing the efficiency of the condenser by using air of low temperature for cooling purposes.

If the condensate produced by the evaporator of the second section were utilized for cooling the condenser,

it would be possible to further increase the efficiency of the condenser.

This invention offers the advantage of simplifying the construction of the air conditioning apparatus, because the air conditioning unit in each room does not require piping for supplying cooled water, and a cooler and cooling tower for all the air conditioning units can be eliminated.

The apparatus according to this invention can perform a heating operation based on the heat pump effect by collecting the heat of exhausts and without requiring piping for supplying hot water.

What is claimed is:

1. In a central heating and cooling system, an air conditioning apparatus comprising a central air conditioning unit for fresh air,

ducts for supplying conditioned fresh air from said central air conditioning unit to a plurality of rooms, and

air conditioning units for heating and cooling conditioned fresh air delivered through said ducts, wherein an air conditioning unit is provided in each of said plurality of rooms and each air conditioning unit having a first section, an evaporator mounted in said first section,

a second section, a compressor mounted in said second section, and an air-cooled condenser, said first section being provided with a fresh air supply port and a fresh air ejection port, and said second section being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for room air.

2. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fresh air supply port of the air conditioning unit in each room communicates with said duct connected to said central air conditioning unit.

3. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a room air drawing port serving as a fresh air supply port is formed in said first section of the air conditioning unit in each room and each of said ducts connected to said central air conditioning unit communicates with each room.

4. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air discharged through the air outlet port of the air conditioning unit in each room is vented directly to the atmosphere.

5. The air conditioning unit of claim 1 which is adapted to reverse the direction of movement of a refrigerant through the compressor, condenser and evaporator through which the refrigerant normally passed in a cooling cycle.

6. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a central air conditioning unit for fresh air,

ducts for supplying conditioned fresh air from said central air conditioning unit to a plurality of rooms,

a plurality of air conditioning units installed in said plurality of rooms, one unit in one room, each of said air conditioning units being divided airtight into a first section and a second section, each air conditioning unit comprising an evaporator mounted in said first section, a compressor and a condenser mounted in said second section, said first section being formed with a fresh air supply port and an air ejection port and said second section being formed with a room air inlet port and an air outlet port, and an air outlet duct connected to the air outlet port of each air conditioning unit in each room' and communicating with the atmosphere.

7. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an air discharge device connected to said air outlet duct. 

1. In a central heating and cooling system, an air conditioning apparatus comprising a central air conditioning unit for fresh air, ducts for supplying conditioned fresh air from said central air conditioning unit to a plurality of rooms, and air conditiOning units for heating and cooling conditioned fresh air delivered through said ducts, wherein an air conditioning unit is provided in each of said plurality of rooms and each air conditioning unit having a first section, an evaporator mounted in said first section, a second section, a compressor mounted in said second section, and an air-cooled condenser, said first section being provided with a fresh air supply port and a fresh air ejection port, and said second section being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for room air.
 2. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fresh air supply port of the air conditioning unit in each room communicates with said duct connected to said central air conditioning unit.
 3. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a room air drawing port serving as a fresh air supply port is formed in said first section of the air conditioning unit in each room and each of said ducts connected to said central air conditioning unit communicates with each room.
 4. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air discharged through the air outlet port of the air conditioning unit in each room is vented directly to the atmosphere.
 5. The air conditioning unit of claim 1 which is adapted to reverse the direction of movement of a refrigerant through the compressor, condenser and evaporator through which the refrigerant normally passed in a cooling cycle.
 6. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a central air conditioning unit for fresh air, ducts for supplying conditioned fresh air from said central air conditioning unit to a plurality of rooms, a plurality of air conditioning units installed in said plurality of rooms, one unit in one room, each of said air conditioning units being divided airtight into a first section and a second section, each air conditioning unit comprising an evaporator mounted in said first section, a compressor and a condenser mounted in said second section, said first section being formed with a fresh air supply port and an air ejection port and said second section being formed with a room air inlet port and an air outlet port, and an air outlet duct connected to the air outlet port of each air conditioning unit in each room and communicating with the atmosphere.
 7. The air conditioning apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an air discharge device connected to said air outlet duct. 